New Patterns!
I haven't posted recently, as I've been busy trying to get the patterns written for this pile of mostly knit design samples I began up to 2 years ago!
About 10 days ago, I published 'Quilt Cloths' - an easy to knit set of quilt block inspired face/bath cloths, worked in KnitPicks Dishie cotton yarn. Dishie is soft, smoothly spun, and easy on the hands, unlike some cotton yarns I have tried in the past. It is also reasonably priced.
The newest pattern release is this - 'Cable & Rib Tea Cozy', sampled in Brown Sheep
Lanaloft Worsted and Lamb's Pride Worsted. Pattern has 2-3 cup and 3-4 cup sizes, and sport a braided I-cord cable embellishment!
The 2-3 cup size only needs about 38 gr of yarn, and the 3-4 cup size needs about 55 gr of yarn, which makes this project a way to use up those small amounts of stash yarns to knit up some gifts for the tea drinkers in your life!
Both patterns are available on Ravelry, Etsy, and Lovecrafts.
Staying Cool
Fall is definitely here, with its decidedly crisp air, which means the holidays start to take over our brains! I, for one, wish there were more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I'm sure I'm not the only one wishing this! I've never liked feeling rushed, and like it less the older I get.
Winter is supposed to be that slow-down time, for rest and contemplation, but I find that doesn't happen until February at the earliest, after the yearly taxes are prepped to send to the accountant. And here, on Cape Cod, winter only really begins in late December and lasts until March. LOL, that doesn't leave a whole lotta rest and relaxation time!
It used to be that I lived for those two all-too-short winter months when I wasn't swamped with responsibilities, as it was the only time I ever slept well. I always need it cold to sleep - a cool head but a warm body, facilitated by many layers of cotton bedding topped with wool blankets and afghans. This means that every spring through autumn, sleep was a struggle, and we all now what happens to our health when we don't get good quality sleep. It takes me down quickly, within a few days.
Several years ago, I discovered this - a Coolbot.
It's a contraption that is used by florists and others who need to construct an inexpensive walk-in-fridge. It overrides the temperature sensor in an AC unit, to allow the AC to cool the space to a much lower temperature than AC's do these days, which, without freon, is only about 62 degrees.
They have an online calculator that shows the size of the AC needed to cool a given room size to one's desired temperature. For my bedroom of about 10' x 12' x 7.5' high ceiling, the calculator recommends a 10K btu AC unit. This spec put me off for years! These windows aren't large enough for a 10K unit.
But this past spring I said to hell with it. We'll get an 8K AC unit and the Coolbot, because anything lower than 62 degrees is better than nothing and watching my health and functioning fly out the window. Lo and behold, I can cool my bedroom (in this circa 1947 not well insulated house) to 50 degrees. I could probably get it colder than that if I wanted, but this is a perfect temp for me, until winter finally settles in, when I sleep with the window open and a twin window fan on.
So, between the cool room temp every night and the several sleep aids I take, once I fall asleep, I'm out for the entire night. I cannot tell you what a blessing this is! Ever since chemo 14 yrs ago, sleep has been difficult at best and almost nonexistent at its worst. No longer do I need to live for just 2 months of every year - I can actually function decently every day of the year.
If you too struggle with sleep and need it cold in order to sleep well, this gadget is
well worth considering. Granted, it's not inexpensive, but I'm SO happy we bought it.
Onward!
Dawn
